Rest area
A
rest area,
travel plaza,
rest stop, or
service area is a public facility, located next to a large thoroughfare such as a highway, expressway, or freeway at which drivers and passengers can rest, eat, or refuel without exiting on to secondary roads. Other names include
motorway service area,
service station,
rest and service area,
resto,
service plaza, and
service centre. Facilities may include park-like areas, fuel stations, restrooms, and restaurants. A rest area or rest stop with limited or no public facility is a
parking area or
scenic area. Along some highways and roads are rest stops known as a
wayside parks, roadside parks, or
picnic areas. Rest areas are common in the United States, Canada, Australia, and parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia.